Screw

ABSTRACT

A fastener for securing remnant-producing materials, a method of manufacturing the fastener, and a method of using the fastener are provided. The fastener is configured such that in use any remnants or slivers produced by rotation of the fastener are forcibly driven into the surface of the material. In one aspect, the fastener has two separate threaded portions, a first or lower threaded portion and a second or upper threaded portion. The threads on the lower threaded portion have a pitch that is different from the threads on the upper threaded portion. In one embodiment, the lower threaded portion threads have a larger pitch than the threads on the upper threaded portion. In use, after the lower threaded portion is completely inserted into the material, the upper threaded portion of the fastener enters the material. Because the upper threaded portion has threads that have a pitch that is different from the threads on the lower threaded portion, the threads on the upper threaded portion capture the remnants that have been extruded within or onto the surface of the material. As the fastener is completely inserted into the material, the remnants that have been extruded by the lower threaded portion of the fastener are substantially retained in the bore by the upper threaded portion of the fastener.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates generally to fastening systems. Inparticular, the present invention relates to a screw for penetrating andsecuring a workpiece.

[0002] In construction and furniture building involving wood products,the use of alternative materials is becoming more common. Somealternative materials are made entirely from post-consumer polyethylenewaste such as bottles and other recycled plastics. Other alternativematerials are manufactured by mixing wood and other materials such asglass, steel, and carbon fibers with a suitable binder to vary thecharacteristics of the final material. Materials alternative to wood areused to construct everything from cabinets to decks. Such alternativematerials are made by various processes. For example, alternativematerial lumber may be made by blending recycled plastic resins withsawdust and extruding the blended mixture into standard lumber sections.

[0003] Such alternative materials have many advantages over wood. Thealternative materials are often stronger and more durable then evenpressure treated lumber. Many materials also offer better resistance tomoisture, corrosive substances, termites and other insects, and otherenvironmental strains that often prove to be detrimental to wood.

[0004] The use of standard fasteners with these alternative materials,however, may produce unwanted results. Screws are commonly used to affixone workpiece to another. However, some of the above mentionedalternative materials may not compress as readily as wood to accommodatethe added volume of the inserted screw. With respect to some of theabove-mentioned alternative materials, insertion of the screw,particularly if there is no pre-drilled hole to accommodate the screw,can cause remnants or shavings to be cut, extruded, or otherwise removedfrom the hole made by the screw. Such alternative materials may bereferred to as “remnant-producing” materials, and may include materialsin addition to the alternative materials mentioned above. Some of theremnants may remain attached to the material or held to the material bythe screw, and extend above the material surface. These remnants thenhave to be removed by sanding or other methods. A common way to reducethis problem is to pre-drill holes in the locations where a screw-typefastener must be inserted. This technique is laborious and timeconsuming. What is needed is a fastener adapted for use with aremnant-producing material where insertion of the fastener, particularlywithout pre-drilling holes, leaves a smoother surface on theremnant-producing material, reducing or eliminating remnants.

SUMMARY

[0005] The present inventions provide a fastener for securingremnant-producing materials, a method of manufacturing the fastener, anda method of using the fastener so that remnants or slivers produced byrotation of the fastener are substantially embedded within theremnant-producing material.

[0006] A fastener is provided having two separate threaded portions, afirst or lower threaded portion having a first thread pitch and a secondor upper threaded portion having a second thread pitch. The leadinglower thread portion is designed to engage the work piece more firmlythan the following upper thread portion. Thus, upon insertion of thescrew, as both threaded portions engage the work piece, the firstsection substantially maintains its position or insertion rate withrespect to the work piece defined by the pitch of the lower threads. Thesecond threaded portion having a different thread pitch engages the workpiece less firmly and thus is pulled through the work piece by the firstset of threads substantially at the rate defined by the angle of thefirst set of threads. If the respective upper and lower thread pitcheswere equal, the upper threads would merely follow in the tracks orparallel to the tracks of the first leading threads. By making thethread pitches different, the second threaded portion engages and pullswith it remnants and/or wall material, retaining or pulling it into thebore.

[0007] In one aspect of the present inventions, the pitch of the secondportion threads is less than the pitch of the threads of the firstportion. The second threaded portion pitch in such an embodiment mayspiral in the same direction as the first thread portion, may be of zeropitch, i.e., one or more rings around the screw shank, or may be ofnegative pitch, i.e., spiral in a direction that is opposite of thethreads on the first or lower threaded portion.

[0008] In another aspect of the present inventions, the threads on thesecond or upper threaded portion have a larger diameter than the threadson the first or lower threaded portion.

[0009] In use, the first or lower threaded portion of the fastener isengaged with the remnant-producing material and rotated in the directionof the threads to insert the fastener into the material. This rotationmay produce remnants or slivers by extruding, cutting, or some othermechanism. These remnants may extend from the hole in the material orworkpiece surface made by the screw.

[0010] After the lower threaded portion is completely inserted into thematerial, the upper threaded portion of the fastener enters thematerial. Because the upper threaded portion has threads that have adifferent thread pitch relative to the threads on the lower threadedportion, the threads on the upper threaded portion capture the remnantsthat have been extruded within and/or onto the surface of the workpiece.As the fastener is completely inserted into the material, the remnantsthat have been extruded by the lower threaded portion of the fastenerare substantially retained in the bore by the upper threaded portion ofthe fastener.

[0011] Therefore, a fastener and a method for inserting the fastener areprovided to answer a need that currently exists in the constructionindustry.

[0012] These and other features and advantages of the invention will bemore clearly understood from the following detailed description anddrawings of preferred embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a side view of a screw according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the screw of FIG. 1engaged in a remnant-producing material.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a side view of a screw according to another preferredembodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 6 is a view taken along section line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

[0019]FIG. 7 is a side view of a screw according to another preferredembodiment of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the screw of FIG. 7engaged in a remnant-producing material.

[0021]FIG. 9 is a view like FIG. 8.

[0022]FIG. 10 is a view like FIG. 8.

[0023]FIG. 11 is a view like FIG. 8.

[0024]FIG. 12 is a view like FIG. 8.

[0025]FIG. 13 is a view like FIG. 8.

[0026]FIG. 14 is a side view of a screw according to another preferredembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Refer now to FIG. 1 there being shown a fastener or screw,generally designated by reference numeral 10, according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention. The fastener 10 includes a shank 20extending between a head 30 and a tapered tip 40. The head 30 has adiameter 32, and also includes a recess 34 (not shown) configured (e.g.,slotted or cruciform shaped) to accommodate a driver for rotating thefastener 10. The screw 10 has an axis 25.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the shank 20 of the fastener 10has two threaded portions: a first or lower threaded portion 50 and asecond or upper threaded portion 60. In a preferred embodiment, thelower threaded portion 50 has right-hand threads 54. The upper threadedportion 60 has left-hand threads 64. The lower threaded portion 50 has alength 53, a lower thread diameter 56, and a lower shank diameter 52.The upper threaded portion 60 has a length 63, an upper thread diameter66, and an upper shank diameter 62.

[0029] The threads on the first or lower threaded portion 50 have apitch 58 that is defined by the axial distance from a point (usually thecrest) on a thread to a corresponding point on an adjacent thread. Thethreads on the second or upper threaded portion 60 have a pitch 68 thatis similarly defined. In the illustrated embodiment, the thread pitch 68of the upper threaded portion 60 is negative and thus is less than thethread pitch 58 of the lower threaded portion 50.

[0030] The head diameter 32 is greater than the shank diameters 52 and62. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a neck 70 extends between the upperthreaded portion 60 and the head 30. The neck 70 has an outer surface72. In the illustrated embodiment, the neck 70 is manufactured to have adiameter enlarging in a tapered fashion to transition from the upperthreaded portion shank diameter 62 to the head diameter 32. In theillustrated embodiment, the lower part of the neck 70 has the samediameter as the shank diameter 62, and the upper part of the neck 70 isthe same in diameter as the head diameter 32. In this embodiment, theneck 70 is manufactured to be of increasing diameter from the lowerportion to the upper portion of the neck 70. The neck surface 72 istapered from the shank diameter 62 to the head diameter 32.Alternatively, a portion or portions of the neck could be straight ornot tapered. The neck is tapered so that in use, as the leading surface,i.e., the neck surface 72 of the illustrated embodiment, enters a workpiece, the work piece will gradually compress to accommodate the screw10 as it is inserted, preferably without the need to pre-drill holes inthe work piece. The desirable angle or degree of taper may depend uponthe compressibility or the characteristic of the work piece. Any abruptflange, protrusion, ridge or other surface in the leading neck surface72 could engage the work piece and inhibit the screw's insertion intothe work piece, particularly if the abrupt surface has to travel asubstantial distance into the material.

[0031] The upper threaded portion 60 and the lower threaded portion 50are separated by a transition section 24 that has a length 26. Thetransition section 24 is manufactured to contain no threads. In theillustrated embodiment, the transition section 24 has a diameter 22 thatis slightly greater than the shank diameters 52 and 62, but smaller thanthe upper and lower thread diameters 66 and 56. Alternatively, thetransition section diameter 22 can be equal to or smaller than the shankdiameters 52 or 62, but should not be so large as to substantiallyinhibit insertion of the screw into the work piece. For example, powderymaterial, such as drywall, easily breaks or compresses, and couldaccommodate abrupt changes or flanges, whether or not the materialproduces remnants from any paper or other coverings. However, othermaterials are more resistant to compression and tapered neck screw headsare more readily insertable into such materials.

[0032] The lower threaded portion 50 extends to the tapered tip 40 and apoint 28, similar to a conventional wood screw. The point 28 isessentially a sharp end to the shank 20. As illustrated in FIG. 1, thetapered tip 40 is manufactured to be decreasing in diameter from theshank diameter 52 to the point 28. The threads 54 of the lower threadedportion 50 are conventionally manufactured to continue onto the taperedtip 40 and to end at the point 28. The lower threaded portion threaddiameter 56 decreases at the tapered tip 40 and comes to an essentiallysharp end on point 28. The lower threaded portion threads 54 on thetapered tip 40 and point 28 may be manufactured to be self-tappingthreads. Self-tapping threads reduce the need to pre-drill holes in aworkpiece.

[0033] The fastener 10 is manufactured from a blank that may initiallybe uniform in diameter. The blank, which may be made form steel,aluminum, or other material, is deformed by a thread rolling machine toachieve the form illustrated in FIG. 1. The blank may be rolled in afirst direction to form the first or lower threaded portion 50. Theblank may be rolled in a second direction to form the second or upperthreaded portion 60. The head 30, the neck 70, and the tapered section22 may be formed during the above mentioned rolling steps, or duringseparate rolling steps. Alternatively, the rolling machine may haveappropriate dies so that the fastener 10 can be manufactured in onerolling step. During the rolling process, threads may receive forgingproperties that help increase the fastener's fatigue strength andloading strength.

[0034] Refer now to FIG. 2 that illustrates the fastener 10, aremnant-producing material 82, a base material 84, and remnants 80. Inuse, as the fastener 10 is rotated into the remnant-producing material82, remnants are cut, extruded, or otherwise removed to the surface 83of the remnant-producing material 82. The remnants 80 are forced out ofthe remnant-producing material 82 by the rotation of the threads 54 onthe lower threaded portion 50 of the fastener 10.

[0035] Refer now to FIG. 3 that illustrates the fastener 10, theremnant-producing material 82, the base material 84, and remnants 80. Inuse, at this stage of the method of the present invention the lowerthreaded portion 50 and the transition section 24 are completelyinserted into the remnant-producing material 82. The lower threadedportion 50 may also at this stage become engaged with the base material84. The upper threaded portion 60 is at this stage at least partiallyinserted into the remnant-producing material 82. The upper threadedportion 60, by virtue of having threads 64 with a different pitch fromthe lower portion 50, captures the remnants 80 onto the upper threadedportion 60. The remnants 80 are captured by the threads 64 of the upperthreaded portion 60 and may also be captured by the neck 70. As thefastener 10 is further inserted into the remnant-producing material 82,the remnants 80 are forcibly driven from the surface 83 of theremnant-producing material 82 and from the upper threaded portion 60into the hole or bore 87 of the remnant-producing material 82 along withthe fastener 10.

[0036] Refer now to FIG. 4 that illustrates the screw 10, theremnant-producing material 82, the base material 84, and the remnants80. In use, at this stage of the method of the present invention thefastener 10 is completely inserted into the remnant-producing material82. Remnants 80 that have been cut, extruded, or otherwise removed fromthe remnant-producing material 82, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, havebeen forcibly driven into the remnant-producing material 82 by the upperthreaded portion 60, neck 70, and head 30. Remnants 80 are below head30, thus leaving a smooth surface 83 on the remnant-producing material82.

[0037] As is shown in FIG. 4, the screw 10 is utilized to clamp theremnant-producing material 82 to the base material 84. A common problemexperienced when attempting to clamp one structure to another with ascrew having threaded sections with a constant thread pitch isdifficulty in tightly clamping, or seating, the two structures againstone another. This is in part a result of a broaching effect stemmingfrom the threaded section closest to the screw head, which leads tojacking, or the tendency for structures to remain separated. To ensuretighter seating of the two structures, a differential should be presentbetween the threaded sections. Conventionally, a differential isapproximated by pre-drilling the upper structure.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, the lower threaded portion 50 has a threadpitch which differs from the thread pitch of the upper threaded portion60. This differential, coupled with the ability of the upper threadedportion 60 to pull the remnants 80 into, and thereby clean, the bore 87,suppresses jacking and allows a tight clamp between theremnant-producing material 82 and the base material 84. Consequently, anadditional step of pre-drilling the remnant-producing material 82 isobviated.

[0039] To ensure proper clamping between the remnant-producing material82 and the base material 84, preferably the uppermost extent of thelower threaded portion 50 should be fully within the base material 84and close to the mating surfaces of the materials 82, 84 when the head30 of the screw 10 is seated within the remnant-producing material 82.Since the uppermost extent of the lower threaded portion 50 should benear to the mating surfaces of the materials 82, 84, properly sized andconfigured screws 10 should be chosen based upon the relativethicknesses of the materials 82, 84.

[0040] Refer now to FIGS. 5 and 6 that show a screw, generallydesignated by reference numeral 110, according to another embodiment ofthe present invention. The fastener 110 has a head 130 that has adiameter 132. The fastener 110 has a neck 170 that has a lower neckportion 174 and an upper neck portion 172. The upper neck portion 172and the lower neck portion 174 are separated by a land surface 190. Theland surface 190 has an inside diameter 178 and an outside diameter 176.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 6, the lower neck portion 174 and the upper neckportion 172, as well as the neck 170 overall, have substantially taperedleading surfaces. Although the neck 170 has the land surface 190, nosubstantial abrupt leading surfaces or protrusions exist from the lowerneck portion 174 to the head 130 as the neck 170 diameter increases,ultimately becoming the same in diameter as head diameter 132. In use,the substantially tapered leading surface of the lower neck portion 174and an upper neck portion 172 can be inserted into a workpiece so thatno substantial abrupt surface or protrusion enters the workpiece in aleading fashion, i.e. faces the workpiece in the direction of entry.Because the land surface 190 is not a leading surface, its abrupt natureshould not substantially inhibit insertion of the screw into theworkpiece. In the preferred embodiment of the neck illustrated in FIGS.5 and 6, the remnants 80 that are cut or extruded from theremnant-producing material 82 may also be captured by the lower neckportion 174, the upper neck portion 172, and the land area 190.

[0042] Refer now to FIG. 7 there being shown a screw, generallydesignated by reference numeral 200, according to another embodiment ofthe present invention. The screw 200 has a first or lower threadedportion 250 that has threads 254. The threads 254 have a thread pitch258 and a thread diameter 256. The screw 200 has a second or upperthreaded portion 260 that has threads 264. The threads 264 have a threadpitch 268 and a thread diameter 266.

[0043] In this embodiment of the present invention, the lower threadedportion threads 254 and the upper threaded portion threads 264 spiralthe same direction. Preferably, the threads 254 and 264 are right-handthreads, however, the threads 254 and 264 may be left-hand threads. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the lower threaded portion thread pitch 258is greater than the upper threaded portion thread pitch 268. Preferably,the lower threaded portion thread diameter 256 is smaller than the upperportion thread diameter 266. Also preferably the lower threaded portionthread angle 251 is greater than the upper portion thread angle 261,because it is desired that the upper threads will grasp and pullmaterial down the bore rather than extrude a new thread pattern in thebore.

[0044] The screw 200 has a transition section 224 that has no threads.The transition section provides an annulus between it and the insidesurface of the bore for accepting remnant and bore material being drawnthrough the bore and may be selected to reside proximate theintersection of the two pieces being fastened together to thus aid indrawing those pieces together. Alternatively, no transition zone may beused. As is noted with reference to the threaded portions 50, 60 shownin FIG. 4, the thread pitch of the lower and upper threaded portions250, 260 are different, and that difference suppresses jacking andenhances tight clamping between the remnant-producing material 82 andthe base material 84.

[0045] A benefit of this embodiment is that the remnant-producingmaterial 82 is urged toward the base material 84 if there is a gapbetween the two materials 82 and 84 at the time the screw 200 isinserted. Because the lower threaded portion thread pitch 258 is greaterthan the upper threaded portion thread pitch 268, the lower threadedportion 250 will travel at a quicker axial rate through a material thanwill the upper threaded portion 260. In use, with reference to FIG. 8,there may be a gap 85 between the remnant-producing material 82 and thebase material 84 when the screw 200 engages the base material 84. Withreference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the lower threaded portion 250 will travelat a quicker axial rate through the base material 84 relative to theaxial travel rate of the upper threaded portion 260 through theremnant-producing material 82. Therefore, the remnant-producing material82 will be urged toward the base material 84. Also shown in FIG. 10 arethe annulus 89 which provides space for accepting bore material andremnants, and the bore 87 made by the threads 264. Finally, it should benoted that the uppermost extent of the lower threaded portion 250 isfilly within the base material 84 and near to the mating surfaces of thematerials 82, 84 when the head of the screw 200 is seated within theremnant-producing material 82. While it is possible for a portion of theupper threaded portion 260 to extend into the base material 84, as shownin FIG. 10 all of the upper threaded portion 260 is resident within theremnant-producing material 82. Preferably, since the uppermost extent ofthe lower threaded portion 250 should be near to the mating surfaces ofthe materials 82, 84, properly sized and configured screws 200 should bechosen based upon the relative thicknesses of the materials 82, 84.

[0046] Refer now to FIGS. 11, 12, and 13, that illustrate how the screw200 captures the remnants that have been extruded onto the surface ofthe remnant-producing material. In use, remnants 80 that are shaved,cut, or otherwise pushed to the surface 83 of the remnant-producingmaterial 82 are captured by the threads 264 of the upper threadedportion 260. Because the upper threaded portion thread pitch 268 issmaller than the lower thread pitch 258, the upper threads 264 are ableto capture the remnants 80. Additionally, because the upper thread pitch268 is smaller than the lower thread pitch 258, the upper threads 264deform the path cut in the remnant producing material 82 by the lowerthreads 254. Alternatively, the above mentioned useful task can beaccomplished if the upper portion thread diameter 266 is greater thanthe lower portion thread diameter 256. When the screw 200 is fullyinserted, the remnants 82 are forcibly driven into the remnant-producingmaterial 82. Refer now to FIG. 14 that shows a screw, generallydesignated by reference numeral 300, according to another embodiment ofthe present invention. The screw 300 has a lower threaded portion 350having threads 354 that a thread diameter 356. Instead of an upperthreaded portion, the screw 300 has an upper annular ridge section 398(spaced threads with zero pitch) that has annular ridges 390. Theannular ridges have a ridge diameter 366 and a ridge height 392.Preferably, the ridge diameter 366 is greater than the lower threaddiameter 356. The ridge diameter 366 may be equal to or smaller than thelower thread diameter 356. The annular ridge section 398 has a length363 that may be smaller, equal to, or greater than the lower portionthread length 353. The annular ridges 390 have horizontally flat surface396 and an angled surface 394. On the screw 300, the annular ridge flatsurface is facing the tapered tip 340, and the annular ridge angledsurface 394 faces the head 330.

[0047] The above description and drawings are only illustrative ofpreferred embodiments of the present inventions, and are not intended tolimit the present inventions thereto. Any subject matter or modificationthereof which comes within the spirit and scope of the following claimsis to be considered part of the present inventions.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:
 1. A screw comprising: a shank having a head endand a point end; said shank having a first threaded section and a secondthreaded section, said first threaded section being closer to said pointend than said second threaded section; said first threaded sectionhaving threads that have a first pitch, said second threaded sectionhaving threads that have a second pitch, different from said firstpitch; said first threaded section having a first thread diameter, saidsecond threaded section having a second thread diameter larger than saidfirst thread diameter, and said head having a third diameter, said thirddiameter being greater than said first and second diameters; and saidfirst threaded section having a first thread angle, said second threadedsection having a second thread angle smaller than said first threadangle.
 2. The screw as in claim 1 further comprising a neck sectionextending between said head and said threaded sections, said neck havingleading surfaces, said leading surfaces being substantially tapered toincrease in diameter in a direction from said threaded sections towardssaid head.
 3. A screw as in claim 1 wherein said first threaded sectionand said second threaded section are separated by a transition sectionhaving no threads.
 4. A screw as in claim 1 wherein said first pitch isgreater than said second pitch.
 5. A screw as in claim 1 wherein saidfirst threaded section and said second threaded section have right handthreads.
 6. A screw as in claim 1 wherein said point end includes atapered segment.
 7. A screw as in claim 2 wherein said neck furthercontains a land surface.
 8. A method of using a fastener comprising:providing a fastener having a shank, a head, a tapered section, a firstthreaded section and a second threaded section, said first threadedsection having threads having a first pitch and said second threadedsection having threads having a second pitch different from said firstpitch; engaging said tapered segment of said fastener with aremnant-producing material; rotating said fastener in the direction ofsaid threads of the first threaded section thereby inserting saidfastener into said remnant-producing material and producing remnantsfrom said remnant-producing material; rotating said fastener in thedirection of said threads of the first threaded section after saidsecond threaded section becomes engaged with said remnant-producingmaterial thereby causing said second threaded section to capture saidproduced remnants; and rotating said fastener until said head engageswith said remnant-producing material.
 9. A screw for clamping twostructures to each other, comprising: a shank having a head end, a pointend, a first threaded section and a second threaded section, said firstthreaded section being closer to said point end than said secondthreaded section; wherein said first threaded section has threads thathave a first pitch and said second threaded section has threads thathave a second pitch which is different from said first pitch, andwherein said first threaded section has a first thread angle and saidsecond threaded section has a second thread angle smaller than saidfirst thread angle; and wherein said threaded sections each have alength such that when said head is seated in one structure, said firstthreaded portion is completely within the other structure.
 10. The screwof claim 9, wherein the portion of said first threaded portion closestto said head is proximate to a pair of mating surfaces of the twostructures.
 11. A method of clamping two structures together with afastener, comprising: providing a fastener having a shank, a head, afirst threaded section and a second threaded section, said firstthreaded section having threads having a first pitch and said secondthreaded section having threads having a second pitch different fromsaid first pitch; engaging said first threaded section of said fastenerwith a first structure; rotating said fastener in the direction of thethreads of said first threaded section to insert said fastener into saidfirst structure; rotating said fastener in the direction of said threadsof the first threaded section after said second threaded section becomesengaged with said first structure and said first threaded sectionbecomes engaged with said second structure; and rotating said fasteneruntil said head engages with said first structure, wherein uponengagement of said head with said first structure said first threadedsection is completely within said second structure.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein upon said engagement of said head in said firststructure, one end of said first threaded section is proximate to a pairof mating surfaces of said two structures.
 13. The method of claim 11,wherein said first structure is formed of remnant-producing material,said first threaded section producing remnants from saidremnant-producing material and said second threaded section capturingsaid produced remnants.